2019_Principles to Place Morley Station Precinct

This report outlines a process of Collaborative Place Design to assist with the translation of the community reference group’s vision and principles into spatial concepts to be considered in the design of a conceptual masterplan for a new passenger rail station area.

Principles to Place

Collaborative Place Design workshop summary report to inform conceptual master planning

Principles To Place Morley Station Precinct

Collaborative Place Design workshop summary report to inform conceptual master planning

Principal Authors: Dr Anthony Duckworth

Grace Oliver

Prepared for: Department of Planning Lands & Heritage (WA)

Relevant Funding:

AUDRC Collaborative Research Funding Agreement

Introduction

This report outlines a process of Collaborative Place Design to assist with the translation of the community reference group’s vision and principles into spatial concepts to be considered in the design of a conceptual masterplan for a new passenger rail station area.

This report outlines a process of Collaborative Place Design undertaken with a Community Reference Group (CRG) for a new passenger rail station area precinct on the Morley - Eleenbrook line.

The Collaborative Place Design activity was undertaken as part of the community engagement phase of a project being undertaken by a professional design practice to prepare a conceptual masterplan for the built form and land use of the station area.

The activity was focussed on translating the Vision and Principles for the future development of the area into spatial actions. The Vision and Principles had been previously determined by previous community engagement undertaken by the design consultant URBIS. These are presented at the end of this introduction.

Collaborative Place Design uses physical interactive models in carefully facilitated workshops to engage stakeholders and communities in urban planning and design projects.

The method is aimed at bridging the gap between design experts, non-design professionals and community members. As stated in a recent UN Habitat report ‘While many upgrading projects adopt civic engagement activities, the transition phase between community needs and the expert designs is often lost in translation.’ (UN Habitat, 2020).

The process unfolded over three meetings of a Community Reference Group over an eight week period. The main interactive Collaborative Place Design activity was conducted during the second of these meetings with eight community members who were placed into two groups of four. Representatives from the state planning department and local government acted as observers but did not participate.

The process aimed to allow community members to translate the principles which they had previously derived into options for spatial actions. The intention was to provide specific guidance to the design team so that the spatial priorities and preferences could be considered and integrated into the design process.

The Vision (URBIS consultants):

AN AUTHENTIC URBAN VILLAGE THAT EMBRACES CHANGE AND THE ADVANTAGES THAT COME FROM A NEW TRAIN STATION. BUILDING ON ESTABLISHED LOCAL CHARACTER, THE VILLAGE HAS A VIBRANT STREET ENVIRONMENT, A VARIETY OF GREEN SPACE AND A RANGE OF ACTIVITY IN INTERESTING SPACES. THIS BLEND CREATES A HUMAN-SCALE DESTINATION OF OPPORTUNITY: A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, VISIT AND DO BUSINESS.

The Principles (URBIS consultants):

VILLAGE

A LOOK, FEEL AND FUNCTION THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST. A PLACE WHERE URBANITY ENHANCES LIVEABILITY

OPEN

A VIBRANT PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT OF PARKS, PLAZAS, STREETS AND GREEN LINKS. A WELCOMING PLACE OF ACTIVITY, CREATIVITY AND SAFETY

CONNECT

EASY TO GET TO AND EASY TO GET AROUND. AN EMPHASIS ON WALKING AND CYCLING WITHIN THE PRECINCT AND BEYOND. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE BLENDS SEAMLESSLY WITH VILLAGE CHARACTER

MIX

A VARIETY OF LAND USES CREATES A STIMULATING PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE. A HIGH LEVEL OF CHOICE, ADAPTABILITY AND BLENDING SUPPORTS CREATIVE ENTERPRISE AND STRATEGIC EMPLOYMENT

INTEGRITY

AN AUTHENTIC PLACE THAT BUILDS TO THE FUTURE BY RESPECTING THE PAST. IT IS A DISTINCT PLACE WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE. A FOCAL POINT WHERE PEOPLE GATHER AND COMMUNITY FLOURISHES

/ Methodology

The Collaborative Place Design engagement methodology creates a customised approach to ensure that the communities preferences and priorities are able to be integrated into the design process.

Objectives

The objectives of the Collaborative Place Design activity were:

1. allow participants to translate their values and ideas into tangible actions so they can be more involved and integrated into the design process’

2. help communicate the process of planning and design in an easy to understand manner so that participants are able to make informed decisions now and in the future,

3. discover ‘hidden’ and ‘local’ knowledge which improves the relevance of information available to guide planning and design choices,

4. build trust amongst individuals and between authorities and community members helping to reach agreements and align different stakeholders; and

5. create a sense of common purpose and encourages custodianship of project outcomes which can ensure actions are implemented and maintained.

Methodology & Analysis

The methodology uses a process of Collaborative Place Design using physical and scaled interactive models. The project required participants to be involved in a ‘Possibilities and Plans’ style activity. This is a scaled interactive physical model workshop typically applied during the start of concept design phases where participants are involved in a shared and parallel process of design and reflection to understand, interpret, explore and invent the spatial realities of projects.

The emphasis is not to necessarily solve a specific problem or produce a design but for participants to present a model outcome which best captures their values and principles using a spatial language which can be integrated into the decision making process.

Activity 1: Here, then and now

This activity was designed to situate the participants within their current context. The previous workshop had delivered a Vision and a set of Principles. Whilst these were admirable ambitions it was necessary to think about the evolution from the current context, then the impending delivery of rail and road infrastructure and the transition to

a future place. This activity also worked as an ‘icebreaker’ to get the community reference group participants to share stories of place (figure 1). The following was the script used to undertake this activity:

To start this journey lets turn our attention to where we stand, this place here and now. Please help this by sharing

Figure 1: Activity one worked as a round table.

a favourite experience, memory or a piece of local history of this place?

We will show you a few images first but please jot down any ideas you have with regard to these prompts.

After 5 minutes we will briefly (1 minute each!) share our reflections.

Activity 2: Get connected

This activity was designed to understand the project within a more regional context and to understand the connections and relationships with the surrounding urban fabric. Two groups of three participants were created and each were given a 1:5000 base map (figure 2) and beaded strings to physically identify key connections (figure 3). Each group

was facilitated. The following describes the instruction script used for this process.

Thinking about the station area’s relationship to other parts of the urban district where there may be complimentary activity (eg destinations for services, jobs, natural amenity, education).

What do you think are the important connections to/from the station at this scale that we can start with?

Use the orange and white beads in your packs to identify these on the district base drawing.

You can place these anywhere either along an existing route or just to show a desire line. You can duplicate someone

else’s idea to reinforce that or go out on your own!

After 15 minutes we will share our reflections in the group and then the facilitator will summarise these to the rest of the group.

Activity 3: Place Elements

This activity focussed in on the spatial constraints and opportunities of the more detailed station area. Participant groups were given a 1:2000 scaled base map/model which identified a number of key features including a physical scaled model of the station transfer facility (figure 4).

The activity took participants through a number of key steps in placing key ‘place elements’ onto the base map/model. These place elements and the sequence of placement were designed in relation to the vision and principles to enable translation of these into specific spatial actions (figure 5). The following outlines the instruction script given to participants.

Now looking more closely at the station precinct area help us to map out some ideas for the key place elements. What we sometimes call the ‘bones of the plan’ or the ‘key moves’ which guide future development towards meeting the vision and principles.

You each have a ‘place pack’ which you will use to indicate your individual preferences and priorities for the key place elements.

Of course you can duplicate others preferences or even combine different place elements in the same location. There are 9 key place elements organised into 3 themes. After each theme each group will present a summary to everyone.

Figure 3: Participants identify key regional connections in Activity 2.

Figure 4: The 1:2000 base map/model used in Activity 3 showing the new station and bus transfer structure.

Figure 2: The 1:5000 base map used in Activity 2 which identifies the station catchments and the adjacent Activity Centre

// Workshop Results Overview

Activity 1 : Here, there and now

Activity 1 was an icebreaker activity designed to focus discussions on the local place. Participants discussed their experiences of place in an informal manner and topics ranged from the strong working class and business history of the area through to the diversity of

Activity 2 : Get connected

Activity 3 : Place Elements

people and uses, large suburban lots, the sandy nature of the land and the range of facilities and amenities that are offered. Formal results or transcripts are not presented as this was mainly designed to orient and situate participants in the site for the other activities.

Figure 9: Workshop participants during Activity 1.

Figure 10: Workshop participants place interactive model pieces during Activity 3

Figure 5: Completed model Group A, Activity 2.

Figure 6: Completed model Group B, Activity 2.

Figure 7: Completed model Group A, Activity 3

Figure 8: Completed model Group B, Activity 3.

‘what a lot of people don’t appreciate about the area, I didn’t until I moved into the area – 6mins to the Swan Valley, Golf course, airport is 10 mins –domestic and international, some good schools, multiple sporting a rec facilities, massive sporting grounds’

‘Nice to be able to smile every day when you walk past art’

‘all roads lead to Charlies’

‘can I pin the bridge? Id love to not see that completely concrete’

‘There are still a lot of trees in area around the station. You never know with these projects, how much of it’s going to survive’

‘slowing it down and making it a place that people actually want to stop - however will it inevitably create a freeway for commuters to race to station’

‘make it a feature rather than just a drainage ditch with a few birds in it’

‘if you are going to create a village you need some more trees’

/// Results: Activity 2 Get Connected

Activity 2 looked at the sub-regional context of the site and asked participants to share their knowledge with respect to connectivity and land use now and in the future.

Activity two was a facilitated interactive mapping and modelling exercise. Participants were split into two groups of four, groups A and B and taken through a sequence of prompts by the facilitators.

The results were gathered through placement of the symbolic interactive elements on the maps and through recordings of discussion. Each recording was transcribed in the days following the activity into a table which was then refined into specific summary points. These were then compared between groups and further refined as necessary.

The summary points have been organised under the following four key themes:

• Regional area connectivity

• Village centre

• Station area connectivity

• Morley activity Centre and Galleria shopping mall

The summary points are presented against the mapping and activity images on the following pages organised for each group except for Regional area connectivity which is a combined image.

Figure 12: Workshop participants using the orange and white beads to identify important connections to/from the station.

Figure 11: Workshop participants discussing the station area’s relationship to other parts of the urban district.

Regional area connectivity

The area to the east will be a significant catchment for the station as this area is not well served by public transport and journeys to the city are lengthy, having to negotiate crossing of Tonkin Highway and many traffic signals.

Regional area connectivity

Location of the station area is actually close to Guildford and the Swan Valley – this is often overlooked but there is rich natural amenity, cultural places and local/ organic food and drink offerings and recreation/ entertainment.

Image courtesy of Google Earth.

Figure 13: Combined (group A and B) Regional area connectivity summary points

Village Centre

It may be difficult to have enough critical mass to create a village, it will be dependent on making connections across the Highway which broaden the catchment for new business. Is a village even possible? – is their sufficient political will to drive this?

Village Centre

The village or precinct will need to generate its own momentum over time rather than rely on external visitors. Charlies is already a centre for the local region, it lacks a village feel though owing to the automobile traffic and setback planning.

Village Centre

The location is actually quite central to a number of regional destinations such as the Swan Valley, Airport, Sport & Rec facilities – it forms a natural centre for the local region.

Residents want to connect across the highway, the current bridge does not make this easy for both vehicles and other modes such as walking and cycling. Station

Village Centre

Is Coventry Village Markets and surrounds a good typology for a suburban village centre in this location? or a more conventional main street or a hybrid. How do you reconcile traffic and accessibility. Station

Village Centre

Consider the role of art and indigenous culture in expressing the story of the place. Possibility that art is viewed from passengers on train and cars, high exposure but moving at speed.

Increased traffic congestion from convergence of vehicles accessing station and current speeds will impact on connectivity and attractiveness of different modes particularly Broun Ave. Station

If local walking access is an objective for the station then the management of the walking routes their appearance, comfort safety, legibility should be carefully considered.

Consider access to the station from both sides on Tonkin Highway.

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

Bus station in Morley is not really connected to other areas of the activity centre in terms of walking (an awkward location).

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

One of the ‘hottest (temperature wise!) places on earth’ in summer owing to its auto-centric planning, strip malls, lack of tree canopy.

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

Viewed that connection to Morley Activity Centre, in particular the shopping centre from the train station was not really a vital consideration at this stage – its too far and the area is difficult to get to.

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

Connection to Morley Activity Centre, in particular the shopping centre from the train station - lack of direct connection (legibility), poor walking links which dissuade public transport connections, quality of journey, lack of comfort and shade, hostile road conditions, congestion around centre, appearance.

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

Morley lacks a gathering space that is a central community focus there is no place to connect to. The activity centre is a large expanse of roads and vehicles and is disconnected, circuitous, lacks legibility and unwalkable.

Morley Activity Centre & Galleria Shopping Mall

Broun Ave is the most logical and legible

connection between the station area and the activity/ shopping centre for vehicles and public transport ( note it only reaches the outskirts of the activity centre and the active transport connections from there are complex and uninviting).

Place Elements

Theme 1: It Starts with the Heart

i. The beating heart - Place your heart piece on the location you think should be the most identifiable and happening location – where it all comes together (now and/ or in the future).

ii. Its only natural - Using the green pins and links to tell us where we should preserve, enhance or reinstate nature (for example this can be new tree planting, nature areas or regenerated open spaces).

iii. Watchin’ the world go by – Where do you relax outdoors, sit and chill or maybe meet a friend. Use the token to tell us where the sweet spot is.

Theme 2: Getting Around

i. Walk this way – use the yellow coloured beads to tell us where the most important walking paths are or should be.

ii. Safety first – where do you think safety is or could be an issue? Use the orange sticky dots to locate your zones of caution.

Activity 3 asked participants to construct a picture of an emerging locale using key place elements organised in three themes (opposite).

Activity three was a facilitated interactive modelling exercise. Participants were split into two groups of four, groups A and B and taken through a sequence of prompts by the facilitators.

The results were gathered through placement of the symbolic interactive elements on the maps and through recordings of discussion. Each recording was transcribed in the days following the activity into a table which was then refined into specific summary points. These were then compared between groups and further refined as necessary.

The summary points were organised according to the nine place elements which structured the interactive duynamics.

The summary points are presented against the activity images on the following pages organised for each

group. Group A is on the left and group B the right side of the page/spread.

iii. Traffic matters – Where do you think car traffic will need to be carefully managed. Place the car on the base to locate traffic hotspots.

Theme 3: Growing Up

i. Work it - What kinds of uses should be introduced or supported to help with jobs into the future? Eg start-ups, local manufacturing, food & beverage and retail. Use the post its to write your ideas and locate your preferences on the model base.

ii. Living local –Where should new households go? And what types of homes are suitable? There are medium density (3 storey walk-ups) and higher density (5-6 storey apartment buildings) on offer with the coloured tiles. You each have 160 dwellings. If you want even higher density you can also stack these up.

iii. Get yer Skates on – The skate parks will be relocated. Use the brightly coloured pin to identify your preference for its new location.

Figure

14: Themes and Place Elements provided for Activity 3.

The beating heart

Using the remnant wetland/ drainage basin/duck pond to reintroduce ecology and nature back into the precinct, a place which acknowledges the history ‘the heart of a small village’

The beating heart

Charlie’s is a natural centre but there is an opportunity to create something more village like, comfortable, natural and community based in scale and function that is collocated with Charlie’s.

The beating heart

Consider the integration of the industrial area to the south west of Tonkin Hwy and maybe its not one heart but a connected strip/ boulevard along Beechboro Road.

Its only natural Concern over large extents of exposed hard infrastructure (bridge deck, road surfacing). Consider green links along Broun Ave and planting on Walter Road east to improve streetscape.

Its only natural Focus of nature is the remnant wetland/duck pond. Its only natural Street environments could be improved with trees and plantings particularly Beechboro Road and Broun Ave. A village needs trees.

Its only natural Concerns over loss of significant trees adjacent to bridge/skate park and future station area.

Watchin’ the world go by Addlestone reserve could be improved as a key public space for meeting and social gathering adjacent to the station.

Watchin’ the world go by The heart of the village should also be an attractive and peaceful location that encourages incidental occupation.

Walk this way

Consider crossing of Tonkin Highway to improve walking access between all parts/ amenities/facilities of the future precinct/village.

Walk this way

It’s unlikely that patrons of the car park would interrupt their trip to use local facilities, this can’t be counted on for economic justification.

Walk this way

Preference to head south to Bayswater to access the city and avoid local congestion and hostile streets.

Walk this way(Get Active)

Connecting to the station from the new heart will be critical.

Walk this way(Get Active)

Crossing of busy intersections at-grade will be complex and a hostile environment which limits walking permeability.

Walk this way

Current local on-road cycle facilities are discontinuous, hostile and poorly oriented towards the station.

Walk this way

Crossing of busy intersections at-grade will be complex and a hostile environment which limits walking permeability.

Walk this way

Broun Ave is a key connector to the station and should encourage walking and cycling access not at the expense of vehicles, particularly if additional Tonkin Highway pedestrian crossings are not achievable.

Walk this way

Village should provide a network of paths which connect key destinations and facilities.

Safety first

Multi-storey car parks are notoriously problematic spaces, they don’t encourage safety, are used infrequently and has minimal passive surveillance.

Traffic matters

Concern that existing intersections on either side of the bridge are close to capacity and introducing more traffic will compound congestion (for example Beechboro Rd N, Bath Road to Broun Ave route)

Traffic matters

Generally need to consider local area traffic impacts, rat-running, speeds on residential streets, conflicts with school children.

Safety first

The whole area including the current bridge is unsafe in the evening, there is very little surveillance, lighting is poor, places are not visible from the road, sightlines are constrained and this probably will be exacerbated by the new structure.

Safety first

Intersections on Walter Road E and Broun/ Embleton Ave are unsafe for pedestrians because of volume of vehicles and intersection design which creates complex crossing manoeuvres.

Traffic matters

Introduction of additional signalised intersection/s for bus transfer station access will compound traffic congestion, stop-start conditions and delays in the area.

Traffic matters

Local areas will be subject to increased traffic, ratrunning, parking demands and this will need to be carefully considered and managed.

Work it

Industrial areas could transition into SME, incubators, galleries, emerging local production/ manufacturing/craft such as Micro-brewery, warehouse retailing, connected to northern ‘village’ for walking and accessing services and facilities. Possible transition to live/work areas.

Work it

The longer term attraction of different uses such as commercial is dependent on establishing an urban centre with amenity and not just a train station with a car park.

Work it

Consider use, activation of key corner sites and also perimeter sites which bookend the village and can be used as gateways such as Beechboro Rd N/Walter Road E intersection.

Work it

Consider which parts of Walter Road E could provide more of a boulevard setting and consolidate services and retail.

Work it

What are the barriers to land use change in industrial areas – is remediation a big issue?

Work it

Village can be a location for community services which are needed in this area.

Work it

Co-location of services and new village centre uses such as bar, café, salons etc with outdoor amenity, opening up onto pleasant environment as current roadside environment is hostile.

Living local

Consider using commercial to flank the highway, and protect the residential areas.

Living local Potential support for increased density collocated with green space such as Houghton Park, capitalise on the amenities of the area.

Get yer Skates on

Consider open areas, nonresidential, with traffic flow, that can be seen from the street.

Get yer Skates on Can the multi-storey parking be used by the club on weekends and after peak times in order to free up parking from the soccer club to accommodate the skate park.

Living local

Mixed use medium rise form with services at ground level where suitable.

Living local

Possibility to live adjacent but not directly next to the station and transfer facility – it will be an eyesore and noisy. Proximity to station and highway will require careful management of dwelling design.

Living local

Consider housing density near Charlies/ neighbourhood centre.

Get yer Skates on Possibility of locating skate park adjacent to school grounds where there is excess space and underutilised facilities.

Living local

Consider Embleton Ave for density increase/urban corridor as there is ageing building stock.

Get yer Skates on

Possibly consider colocation of other community/ youth activities and facilities to create some adjacent benefits/networks and diversity of choice for teenagers.

Get yer Skates on

Is it possible to locate a skate park in existing residential areas? For example Houghton Park SE corner.

The following pages present a summary of the main themes and considerations resulting from the application of a Collaborative Place Design methodology for this project.

1. Need to think about this location in its broader context not just in relationship to Morley commercial area - close to Guildford, suburban area catchments to the east and the Swan Valley

2. Connections to Morley commercial area are difficult. Routes are indirect/ poor legibility. Its an ‘auto-scape’ hostile to walking and cycling when you get there, lots of vehicles, intersections, road surfacing and traffic congestion.

3. The heart of a new village or future urban centre lies to the east of the Highway and should build on the remnant ecology and the popularity of existing Markets

4. The new bridge needs to be designed as a place for people (which addresses comfort, safety, the quality of the pedestrian and cycling journey, local character and identity and the cycling journey, safety, aesthetics) and not just movement functionality (which creates a harsh environment in direct opposition to the vision and principles)

Also consider the critical nature of this crossing of Tonkin Hwy - how will this connectivity for walking, cycling and vehicles be retained during a lengthy construction period and following during operation with additional interruptions of turning buses along the road.

5. To support any future village or centre there needs to be a new pedestrian crossing of Tonkin Highway south of Broun Ave. The ‘dead-end’ areas need to be re-connected to support the transition of the industrial areas over time and create a critical mass of activity on both sides of the station.

6. Build on the qualities of existing land uses rather than introduce ones which are not authentic. Consider adapting, enhancing, transitioning and improving local business and industrial areas to support emerging skill shortages and employment opportunities. Consider also the role of community facilities and cultural places in providing a foundation for a village or centre rather than a dormitory residential area.

7. Reinvigorating nature and ecology is essential to create an attractive place for different types of human occupation and business activity. Consider the remnant wetland as an authentic place and acknowledge and address the loss of trees. Consider also the role of art, appearance and materiality in providing an inviting space for people.

8. There will be large increases in traffic along an already constrained and congested route including bus turning. Local area traffic management will be critical. There is the potential to create significant bottlenecks and stop start conditions which exacerbate the barrier effect of Tonkin Highway and further reduce the walkability of the precinct.